The Blue Lagoon- visiting with kids

The Blue Lagoon was one of the last places we visited in Iceland. By that time, we’d already been to many pools and spas all over the country. And the Blue Lagoon is much more expensive than any other pool or spa in Iceland. So let’s just say that the bar was set pretty high for me to recommend it.

I was just about ready to write off the Blue Lagoon entirely when we got to the front entrance. Or, rather, didn’t get to the front entrance.

The Blue Lagoon offers timed tickets. The time specifies the hour during which you are allowed to check in; once you’re in, you can stay as long as you like, or until they close (at midnight in the height of summer.) You have to reserve a time in advance. If you haven’t visited in the last few years, note that tourism has exploded in Iceland, and pre-booking is new in just the last few years. Just for fun, let’s look for a ticket a week from today:

Your only option is 9 PM, and even then you’re paying 60 Euros, instead of the base price of 50 Euros. This works just like airline tickets; as the cheaper tickets are sold, the only ones left are the more expensive ones. Even looking 2 weeks out, you won’t find the cheapest tickets available until 8 PM:

Now, these are dates in August, which is still in the peak season. But once you know what day you plan to go, book your tickets to get your preferred time and possibly save some money. Note that teenagers (the very limited range of 14-15 year-olds) are half price, and kids 2-13 are free. Kids under 2 are NOT allowed to swim; a parent will have to stay with them outside of the lagoon area. Note that I haven’t seen this infant policy anywhere else in Iceland– babies are welcome at any other pool or spa.

After a few minutes, we finally made it inside, and saw this:

Not the most relaxing part of the experience. We had tickets for 8 PM; these two crowd pictures were taken at 8:03 and 8:10. And I think this might be the key to minimizing the lines– show up late! There’s going to be a rush of people who get there at the exact time their ticket allows for, especially late into the evening. I’m not positive, but I’m fairly certain that, had we shown up at 8:30 or 8:40, the line would have been minimal. So you could consider booking an earlier time and then showing up toward the end of the hour window.

We eventually made it through the line. But with the waiting, and the changing, and the showering, we didn’t make it into the water until about 8:45. And the locker room was crowded, and honestly not any nicer than some we have seen at thermal swimming pools around Iceland.

And then, after the lines and the changing rooms and the crowds and the showers, there’s the lagoon.

It’s huge and, surprisingly, not very crowded. I was expecting wall to wall people after all of the waiting, but the lagoon is so big that it handles all of the people quite easily. Perhaps some of the ongoing construction is to streamline the check-in experience?

One nice feature of the lagoon is that there is a small indoor area, with a door that leads outside. This allows you, and your kids in particular, to avoid the cold walk to get to the warm water. Instead, you can enter the warm water inside (after putting water wings on all kids 9 and under) slowly, and then make your way outside without leaving the warmth. Definitely head left to get to this pool instead of going straight outside.

The water temperature is a perfect temperature; maybe 37 Celsius? And just a couple of degrees can be the difference between kids who are done after 15 minutes and kids you have to drag away a couple of hours later. (For example, I thought the Secret Lagoon was too hot.) The Blue Lagoon was definitely in the dragging-the-kids-away category.

There are dozens of places you can explore. You can wander around, or find a suitable spot for your family and hang out. There’s a cave, benches, showers (which are extremely powerful), an area to get mud masks, bridges, alcoves galore, a snack bar, and much more. The mud mask area is back and to the left; the snack bar is all the way back to the right:

Everyone is given a wristband to wear; these can come off fairly easily, and the Blue Lagoon will charge you if you lose one. Make sure you help the kids slide the plastic piece around so the band won’t come off. (Actually, I’m not really sure why the kids have to wear them, since admission for them is free. I guess it ensures they didn’t sneak in without an adult?) These bands are color coded for adults, teenagers, and kids. Adults and teenagers can use their bands to purchase drinks. Note that you’ll have to settle each tab at the end; if you are all together, it may be easier to just have one person put all of the drinks on a single wristband.

Options at the snack bar include skyr smoothies, juice smoothies and slushies. They also offer beer, with a limit of 3 beers per wristband. The smoothies are premade, and include one with fruit, and one with fruits and spinach (called “Green is Good”). These were very good, but expensive at 900 krona for maybe an 8 ounce serving. The slushies were less expensive at 550 krona (though there’s no real fruit), and came in 2 flavors: Blue raspberry or cherry. The kids enjoyed drinking the freezing cold slushies while enveloped in the warm water.

So, the questions everyone asks, and Googles, is whether the Blue Lagoon is worth it or not. You have to reserve a time well in advance, which limits your flexibility. (By the way, if you have time in the area, we highly recommend you check out the Reykjanes Geopark.) You may have to wait in line, or at least optimize your arrival time to avoid the crowds. And it’s extremely expensive.

I went in hoping I wouldn’t have to recommend a visit to the Blue Lagoon. That I could be a haughty travel writer who tells you to avoid the most touristy spots. (Did you know that the Blue Lagoon is just power plant run-off?) But I won’t. Despite the hassles, the Blue Lagoon is incredible. It’s huge, it’s beautiful, and it’s relaxing. Myvatn Nature Baths comes close, and Myvatn has the benefit of two different lagoons with different temperatures. But it doesn’t give you the otherworldly feeling you get at the Blue Lagoon.

So work the Blue Lagoon into your plans. But also be sure to try a thermal swimming pool in Reykjavik, or in any town around Iceland. You’ll spend $110 to get your family into the Blue Lagoon, and you’ll spend $12 to get into the thermal pool. And both will be worth it.

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10 comments

Thank you for another detailed post. Of all the sites I spend time on you do the best job of providing the information families traveling to Iceland really need. Knowing in advance how long you can expect to wait before you actually get to the pool, and how much to plan on spending for a smoothie is really helpful for managing young travelers’ expectations and can make the difference between an interesting day and a GREAT day, so thank you!).
We skipped the Blue Lagoon on our trip this summer–with 4 adults and 3 kids we just felt we were risking too much money without a clear feeling we would be getting our money’s worth (and no ability to get a refund if we had to cancel last minute due to an illness or injury). After reading your post, however, we will certainly put it on the Must Do list for the next trip. It sounds like a great family experience.

Hi! I stumbled upon your fantastic website when I googled “Iceland Blue Lagoon Kids”. We are travelling to Iceland (from Vancouver) this July. We are 2 adults and 3 kids ages 11, 12 and 14. Our flight lands at 0600. We were thinking of heading straight to the Blue Lagoon after we pick up our rental car . It opens at 8. Is that too much time hanging around there, or should we go somewhere else (e.g. for breakfast) after we land? It looks like the 11 and 12 year old will be free….will they give them towels or should we be prepared with our own. Thanks so much in advance and I can’t wait to look at your website some more

Glad you found us! My guess is that your two hours of extra time will disappear pretty quickly, with getting to the gate, getting the rental car, and driving about 20 minutes to the Blue Lagoon. If you did have extra time, you could consider heading to Viking World for breakfast. They open at 7, and have a breakfast special that costs only a little more than the museum admission, and includes free admission. Perhaps you could see if you could eat breakfast and come back and see the museum after the Blue Lagoon?

Unfortunately, while the Blue Lagoon does offer free admission to kids 2-13, you’d have to pay to rent a towel for them. The fine print says: “Please note that the free entry for children only includes general entrance and no additional services/products stated in the admission type.” So bring your own towels, or you can rent for 700 isk.

Eric, you just answered questions I didn’t even know I had! Can the extra towel rental for a child be done on-site, or should this be booked online with the tickets? Also, if my flight gets in at 6:35am, would the 8am ticket reservation leave us enough time to leave the airport, rent a car, and make it to Blue Lagoon? What happens if you are late?

Good question, and the first one made me realize I should have talked more about towels in the post! Adults have the choice of several different types of tickets. The base ticket just includes admission and a silica mud mask– no towel rental. Any of the more expensive options for adults include a towel. So adults with the base ticket and all free children (2-13) can rent a towel for 700isk. You don’t need to book this online– just tell them when you check in how many towels you’d like. I don’t know if you pay for them when you check in, or at the end; we didn’t rent towels, but paid for our drinks at the end.

As for timing, I think you should be okay. I haven’t confirmed this, but I think there may be a benefit to arriving later in your window. That is, your 8 AM ticket allows you admission for that hour– between 8 and 9. It’s possible that most of the people with the same ticket time will have already arrived and checked in, so there may not be much of a line if you arrive at 8:45. (If you arrive at 8:45, make sure any people outside aren’t waiting for their 9 AM window!)

If you will arrive much past 9:00, it might make sense to call the Blue Lagoon and let them know, but I doubt that will be a problem with a flight that lands at 6:35.

I am so glad I found your site! I’ve just started reading through it. We are planning an Iceland/London trip in September. With our 3.5 and 1.5 year olds. I am curious though about the Blue Lagoon and the no infant policy. Did you have your 6 month old with you on that visit? Do both parents have the same ticket time but one stays in the bathhouse area with the baby while the other goes to the lagoon with the other child? Or is this a no go for us with an under 2 child? Thank you so much in advance!

The other option is what you are suggesting, I think: Buy tickets for the parents and your older child, and then the parents take turns waiting with your younger child in the cafe area. There are windows there where you can see the Lagoon.

Hello! Any information on whether the “no infants under 2” rule is strictly enforced or if they would ask for proof of age? We’re thinking of traveling to Iceland next summer when our son will be just shy of his second birthday (so he’ll still fly for free).

I don’t know what the unofficial policy is. My guess is that they won’t ask for proof, especially for a kid who is almost 2? We were never questioned in other places (museums, buffets, etc.) where kids of a certain age get a discount.

If you’re willing to say he’s 2 (and as long as your son doesn’t correct you!), my guess is you won’t have a problem, but no promises!

Otherwise, you could each take a turn in the water while the other kept him inside.

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We are a family of seven (2 adults and 5 kids, ages 6 months-14 years!), taking an extended tour of Iceland during summer 2016. We have been chronicling our preparation and travel here on IcelandWithKids, and are now beginning to compile our experiences into a book to help families better plan their first experiences travelling abroad with children.

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About Us

We are a family of seven (2 adults and 5 kids, ages 6 months-14 years!), taking an extended tour of Iceland during summer 2016. We have been chronicling our preparation and travel here on IcelandWithKids, and are now beginning to compile our experiences into a book to help families better plan their first experiences travelling abroad with children.

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Subscribe and we'll keep you updated about our book, Iceland with Kids!